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The still untitled spinoff will be timed to release a year later than the "Despicable Me" sequel, "Despicable 2"

Universal and Illumination Entertainment greenlighted a spinoff of "Despicable Me," featuring the short, yellow-colored creatures that serve as the "minions" in the computer animated film, an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap.

The film, slated to be released in 2014, follows the goggle-clad henchmen to the super villain Gru in "Despicable Me" as they interact with human characters in an original story.

Many of the same filmmakers from the original movie are on board. "Despicable Me" director Pierre Coffin is teaming up with layout supervisor Kyle Balda. The script was already written by Brian Lynch, who wrote the film adaptation of the popular computer game "The Sims."

Production is being timed with the schedule of "Despicable 2," the original film's forthcoming sequel, so the as-yet-untitled minions film comes out a year later.